Thermopitcher



IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY `Iune 3, 1952 A. o. KIRMAN THERMOPITCHER Filed Aug. 2, 1949 Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES f PAE' OFFICEL; 2,599,332 I v Y THERMOPI'ICHERe Alexander 150. Kirman, New York, N. Y.,.assignor to T he'rmoplex International, ,Inc. New.l `iior'rl':,A N. Y., fapcorporation 'of New York ApplicatiomAugustx, 1949, A,Serial 4Nm 108,100 v 1 4 claims.,

This inventiongrelates :tosipitchersdsigned to l maintain a beverageL against substantial k change in ten'iperature y; until dispensed and. relates.,par-l ticularly to thermo-pitchers, ,thev greater ,part of which maybe moldedr in one piece andr in oneoperation.,

The invention contemplates the provisioncf a ing materialin -the vinsulatingspace between the container` andL the casing, wor the evacuation of airtherefrom. Y

The invention .further contemplatesthe provision of a lightgweight thermo-pitcherr of goed appearance -andadapted.for use in restaurants, hotels, bars, oiiices and at the dining,tableY to d keep .hot or f cold beverages- Without change in' temperature for a substantial time anduntilthe f beveragey is poured out, the openi body of the pitcherA being inexpensively moldableLA in one operation of suitable synthetic plastic d material of the :type `whiehiis resistant to ,heat andV cold.

The vinvention further contemplates .the ,proc vision of a thermo-pitcher adapted to be molded in one :piece with an inner container, anouter casing'.,anV insulating A space therebetween, a

spout and. a handle, andinto ,which space suitable insulating material may readily be inserted and `thecspace then-effectively and economically sealed..the container beinggopenat the topA and normally .closed as by a removable4 moldedginsulatingqcover designed to operate as .a rotary valveto permit .dispensing-v of vliquid from the pitcher .through its rspout.`

The invention further contemplates. the prof vision of a one piecenbody molded with an insulating., space ytherein'which -is provided with insulating partitions separating the space vintoY non-,communicating z component 'parts constitut- A ingdcompartments.,

The various objects of .the invention will be clear from the description' which follows and fromthe drawings,A in which:

Fig. ,1 is a top planv view combined with a partial horizontal ,sectional View.` taken lon` a plane'below the handlegof the thermo-:pitchen the cover being shownin itsl normal topfsealing;

4 (Cl. 65e-66)'A wardly and outwardly-.inclined bottomwall I6 of the spout forms a depressedportion of the.; top annular wallvII integrally joining then-ppeerr.v parts of the container andcasing and closing the rwtop of the space I3. 4.-The spout projects outf,

Wardlybeyond thecasing YI 2 and communicatesat its inner end with the interiorof the container., i

Fig. 2. is a combined side lelevationa,1 ;,lndmver-vll tical sectional View of the .epitcher showing. the.. @over vin the same ton-s ealnerostionas in; Fie, In theepractical embodiment 0i the-invention, 5 shown hereingbrwaypf exemple; themainibodyw I of the pitcher is moldedin onepiece and comprises the inner-container II, they vouter, casing spaced outwardly'ias by thevspace/IB 1 from and concentricvlvvith -the-container, the .g `pouring spout I 4 and n; the yhandle n I5. f-The upf, y

Il through the portY I8 in the wall vof the .con-v tainer when permitted to do so by thecover 29,1; Pthe skirt of which normally'sealsthe port., Thev`v` bottom 2| 4of the pitcher is preferablymade as shoulder 22 to the bottom edge of the outerfcasing i' bottom edge.

insulating space 23 therebetween. d

a disc-like piece separatevfrom .the body II) and is l preferably secured in place at its peripheralV Y AI2 by suitable cement,'the shoulder covering said v l The pitcher bottom '2l also'serves d, to protect the container bottom by providingthe It will be noted that by the'construction ide-M scribed,the container II is in effect suspended" :iwithinand in inward spaced-relation to thecasing- I2,- being integrally joined thereto-onlyat the j top bythe Wall Il, part of Whichwallv lis def f pressed to form the portA I8 communicating with A the spout Ill and alsoto formthe'bottom`V of the rspout. Y The open top of theicontainer is nor-f mally closed -by the 1rotatable and completely removable cover-20 whichis ordinarilyremovedonly when the containereis to be filled or cleanede For dispensing purposes, the "cover Ineed not be removed, lthe side-dispensing opening -24 being---j provided in the dependingskirt-ZS Aof the cover. An` outstanding xiiange 2l at the periphery. of the: top `26 of vthe coverA is designed to restffonrthe Wall II -With-the-skirt 25 closelyFitting-the-.--topfxk4 :,'part'of the-inner surface-of thecontainer. yThe@Y upstandingv relatively-'thin and-wide. .handle-28 provides H.a means i fora. easily` manipulating ,the coverl to carry the J opening: 24 into.,=registration.- with the port I8 andtherebyto open communica-1a.r :tionA between the spout I4 and the interionof the container., The handle `28 Iis arranged. radially across the top'of the :cover at the :openingfand`-l therefore seri/estas :a means-,for indicating ether.;A

:fthe: contentszof thescontainerato be `:replaceiit by air as dispensing proceeds, a small vent opening 29 is made through the projection 30 extending inwardly of the skirt 25, and through the top 2B.

An insulating space is formed in the cover by providing the skirt 25 with an inwardly extending annular shoulder 3I above the opening 24 and below the top 26. Secured as by cement to the shoulder to form the insulating space 33 is the bottom partition 32. The pitcher handle I5 is preferably molded integrally with the casing I2 in a manner which is well understood, and its ends are integral with the casing and hence separated from the container by the insulating space I3. handle from the hot or cold liquid in the container and no special insulating handle is needed. The handles I5 and 28 as Well as the spout I4 and the outer surface of the casing are adapted to be molded into pleasing congurations and also to receive molded surface ornamentation if desired, such as the flutes 34 shown around the lower fpart of the casing.

It will be understood that the spaces I3, 23 and 33 are important features of the invention in that the requisite heat insulation of the contents of the container II from the outer air is made possible thereby in an adequate and inexpensive manner. Such insulation may take various forms, such as air left in the spaces and sealed therein away from access to the outside. Or suitable heat insulating material of any well known type such as ground cork, or fibrous matter such as cotton or the like or light-Weight cellular material such as expanded vermiculite or perlite may substantially iill the spaces and retard the passage of heat to and from the container andy its contents. However, as shown, substantially cylindrical and preferably concentric and spaced apart bright metallic foil partitions 35 and 36 are used to divide the space I3 into smaller spaces I3a, |312 and I3c closed olf from each other, the foil serving to reilect back most of the heat attempting to pass through the partitions from one compartment to the other and thereby aiding in maintaining constant the temperature of the contents of the container.

The foil partition 35 is supported by and rests against the circumferentially spaced inwardly extending ribs 3l projecting from the inner surface of the casing I2, while the foil partition 35 is similarly supported and rests against the ribs 38 projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the container II and alternating with the ribs 31. Preferably, all of the interior surfaces of the body IIJ and of the cover II including the bottom 2| -and the partition 32 of the cover are covered with foil to assist in preventing heat transfer. For example, the foil sheet 39 is secured to the lower end of the partition 36 and to the under side of the bottom 22 of the container and serves in addition to its heat-reflecting function, as a closure to cut off the compartment 23 from the compartments I3b and I3c. The sheet 40 covers the inner surfaces of the casing and its ribs, the sheet 4I covers the outer surface of the container and its ribs, the annular sheet 42 covers the inside surface of the wall I1 and the sheet 43 covers the inside surface of the disc bottom 2l. Similarly, the foil sheets 44 and 45 cover the inside surfaces of the cover as best seen in Fig. 2.

The foil may be secured in place in any suitable manner as by adhesive and is sufficiently stiff to maintain its shape and position during ordinary use and handling of the pitcher. However, the foil and other insulating material may Said space therefore insulates the obviously be omitted from the insulating spaces and the air evacuated instead as hereinbefore indicated.

It will now be seen that the thermo-pitcher forming the subject matter of this invention is of simple but eflieient construction; that the container, casing, spout and handle may readily be molded in one operation and of a single piece of synthetic plastic material to provide a lightweight pitcher; that provision is made therein for various types of heat insulation as desired; that the foil partitions illustrated from a simple, inexpensive but effective heat insulating means; that the handle is insulated from the container and hence does not get too hot to manipulate and needs no special insulation; that the insulated cover forms an adequate rotary valve for dispensing purposes without the necessity for the removal thereof and that the various problems involved in the construction of thermo-pitchers have been adequately met so that the pitcher is well designed for its intended purposes.

While I have shown and described a certainV specific embodiment of the invention, various obvious changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

Y 1. In a thermo-pitcher, a one-piece body molded of synthetic plastic and having an inner container closed at the bottom thereof and open at the top thereof, an outer casing in outward concentric spaced relation to the container and open at the bottom thereof, a at disc-like closure for said open bottom designed to contact a supporting surface over a substantial area and a spout connecting the top portions of the container and casing and communicating with the interior of the container, said spout constituting a depressed part of an annular wall joining the tops of the container and casing beyond the spout, there being an annular heat-insulating space between the container and the casing, an upright metallic `foil partition in and dividing the space into noncommunicating compartments, ribs projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the casing into the space and supporting the partition, additional ribs projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the container and alternating With the respective rst-mentioned ribs, a second upright foil partition supported by the additional ribs, and a rotary separable cover for the open top of the container having an imperforate depending cylindrical skirt in contact with and riding on the inner surface of the container and extending below the depressed part of the annular wall, said skirt being provided with an opening adapted to be moved into register with the inner end of the spout or out of register therewith for closing same, the outer surface of the skirt normally lying ushwith the inner wall of the container at said depressed part of the annular Wall.

2. In a thermo-pitcher, a one-piece body having an inner container, a casing surrounding the container and having a disc-like flat bottom thereon of a separate piece of material, there being an insulating space between the container and the casing, an annular wall joining the tops of the container and the casing and bridging said space, said wall being depressed at a selected part thereof and the container and casing being correspondingly recessed at the depressed part of the wall, a spout projecting from the casing at the depressed part of the wall and communicating with the interior of the container, ribs projecting from the casing and the container into said space, the casing ribs alternating with the container ribs, metallic foil partitions in spaced relation to each other and to the casing and container held in place by the respective casing and container ribs and dividing the space into non-communicating compartments, a handle on the body integral with the casing and a rotary separable cover for the container having a top provided with a peripheral flange normally resting on the annular wall, and a depending skirt provided with a side opening adapted to register with the inner end of the spout and long enough normally to close said inner end from communication with the container, the cover having a partition therein above the bottom of the skirt and below the top to form a compartment therein, and metallic foil linings on the interior surfaces of the casing and cover compartment and on the outer surfaces of the container.

3. In a thermo-pitcher, a one-piece body molded of synthetic plastic and comprising a cylindrical inner container closed at the bottom thereof and open at the top, a cylindrical outer casing in outward concentric spaced relation to the container and open at the bottom thereof, a flat disc bottom for the casing of a separate piece of plastic material in downward spaced relation and parallel to the container bottom, said disc bottom having a peripheral shoulder engaging the lowermost end edge of the casing and adhesively secured thereto and closing the otherwise open bottom of the casing, a substantially flat annular top wall integral with and joining vthe upper edges of the container and the casing, said wall having a depression at a selected part thereof, the container and casing being shorter at said depression than at the respective remainders thereof and the depressed part of the wall integrally connecting the shortened upper ends of the casing and the container, said wall extending upwardly and outwardly from the depression thereof to a point above the flat part of the wall and outwardly of the casing and forming a spout, a rst set of circumferentially spaced apart upright ribs extending outwardly from the outer lateral surface of the container toward the outer casing a lesser distance than that between the container and the casing, a second set of circumferentially spaced apart upright ribs extending inwardly from the inner lateral surface of the casing toward the inner container a lesser distance than that between the container and the casing, the respective ribs of the sets alternating with each other, a first cylindrical sheet of metal foil supported by the outermost edges of the rst set of ribs in outward spaced relation to outer surface of the container, a second cylindrical sheet of metallic foil in outward spaced relation to the first sheet and supported by the second set of ribs, metallic foil lining the outer surface of the container, the inner surface of the casing, the under face of the container bottom and the upper face of the disc bottom, said first foil sheet extending from the lower surface of the annular wall to the upper surface of the disc bottom and the second sheev extending downwardly from the lower surface of the annular Wall toward said disc bottom, and a cover for the open end of the container rotatable about a vertical axis and having a depending cylindrical skirt thereon extending to a point below the depression and contacting the inner surface of the container and rotatable thereon, said skirt having a cut-out portion adapted to register with the depression, said skirt closing the inner end of the spout against communication with the interior of the container on the rotation of the cover about the axis thereof to a selected position.

4. The thermo-pitcher of claim 3, the lower part of the skirt of the cover being reduced in thickness to provide a shoulder on the cover above the cut-out portion, a fiat horizontal partition in downward spaced relation to the top of the cover and secured to the cover at the shoulder to form a compartment within the cover, metallic foil lining the cover compartment and an outwardly extending flat peripheral flange on the cover normally resting on the top surface of the annular wall except at the depression, the skirt of the cover normally forming an upright inner wall closing the spout at the inner end of the depression.

` ALEXANDER O. KIRMAN.

fue of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 19,362 Justheim Nov. 6, 1934 76,761 Holmes Apr. 14, 1868 121,500 Engelbert et al Dec. 5, 1871 231,586 Jones Aug. 24, 1880 233,189 Barrowsy Oct. 12, 1880 596,965 Field Jan. 4, 1898 665,349 Sewall Jan. 1, 1901 921,729 Paalen May 18, 1909 1,180,812 Wolf Apr. 25, 1916 1,312,203 Picard Aug. 5, 1919 1,956,395 Montgomery Apr. 24, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 135,574 Great Britain Nov. 25, 1918 245,300 Italy Feb. 23, 1936 531,147 Germany Aug. 5, 1931 614,120 Germany June 1, 1935 631,184 France Sept. 6, 1927 

